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Vanilla leaf

As a Northwest native herbaceous groundcover, Vanilla Leaf is best known for the vanilla smell of its dried leaves during the winter. It is also known as Deer’s Foot. Vanilla Leaf grows all along the west coast, from northern California well up into British Columbia. Reaching to a height of 1’, it spreads out though underground rhizomes to form a dense under-story to native trees and shrubs. Each leaf consists of 3 horizontally-oriented leaflets which have scalloped edges. Leaflets can have either finely and sharply toothed or bluntly tipped lobes. Description from wsu.edu

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Vanilla leaf

Vanilla leaf fast facts

Scientific Name

Achlys triphylla

Family

Berberidaceae

Garden Type

Anywhere

Wildlife

Does not attract wildlife

Native Plant Region

Western WA, PNW, North America

Light needs

Filtered, Full Shade

Water Needs

Medium

Plant Type

Deciduous, Groundcover & Grasses, Perennial

Bloom Color(s)

White

Height

0 – 2 feet

Width

2 – 5 feet

Months in Bloom

March, April, May, June

Safe Beneath Power Lines?

Yes
Vanilla leaf

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